Transforming Research Culture: University of Liverpool’s Project Sparks Team-Based Innovation

The University of Liverpool’s ambitious project to reshape research culture has successfully catalyzed funding for collaborative, team-based research initiatives. Under the Research England-funded Research Culture Action Plan, the University launched a pilot initiative offering up to £20,000 for interdisciplinary, team-led research projects. The goal: to shift away from traditional, individual-centric models of academic research toward a more inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable research environment.

The pilot attracted over 70 proposals, with 13 projects ultimately receiving funding. These projects span diverse disciplines—from environmental sustainability to inclusive research practices—demonstrating the appetite and potential for innovation within team-led approaches. The initiative emphasizes the importance of recognizing all contributors in a research process, not just principal investigators, promoting a cultural shift toward shared credit, team growth, and collective outcomes.

The University also plans to evaluate the long-term impact of these funded projects on research culture, with early signs showing increased morale, inclusivity, and interest in non-traditional research pathways.

Key Points for Policymakers:

Institutional support for team-led research can drive innovation across disciplines.
Funding models should evolve to recognize and reward collaborative contributions.
Sustainable research cultures require policies promoting inclusivity, transparency, and shared credit.